Being aware of one’s culture allows counselors to be more effective in their practices by having the correct methods to engage their clients. Counselors may need to know that those in my ethnic group are often reluctant to talk about emotions and personal issues with outside strangers. It has been taught that matters are to be handled privately, so seeking help from professionals is often discriminated against. Knowing this type of discrimination will allow the counselor to figure out ways to help all clients within that ethnic group feel more comfortable and willing to cooperate.
African Americans have a history of being mistreated by those in the medical and mental health fields, which has fueled their resistance to receive services. One instance of mistreatment is Tuskegee Experiment in 1932. This experiment included 400 African American men were not told they were being studied for untreated syphilis. By the end of the experiment only 74 men survived, although their conditions could have been treated by penicillin (Williamson, 2014). Incidents such as these have helped to form the idea that African Americans are not cared, and their reluctance has often trickled down to the next generation. It is important for counselors to know the history of African American’s mistrust of the system in order to better address their concerns and build trust.
Those in my ethnic group, including myself, take pride in hard work and achievements. My grandparents often boast about making a life for their families with little to no resources, and they have instilled the value of hard work in me. Knowing these values is beneficial to the counselor because he/she is able to better coach the clients towards and help them reach their goals that are closely aligned with their values.
- Williamson, M.E. (2014). The Reluctance of African-Americans to Engage in Therapy. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1218&context=cehsdiss
